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This second annual R&B Xmas Ball showcased a lineup of performers known for their Christmas albums. Instead of centering on seasonal songs, the evening served as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the sincere and emotional style of 1990s R&B.

Opening Acts: Timeless Feelings

Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching attire, with music videos from the 2000s playing behind them. Following this, a performance of primarily slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the main artists.

The Moving Performance

The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her show with a backing band seemed rooted in the era of her greatest fame.

However, deep into her performance, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply emotional moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.

Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, solidifying her grip over the crowd's emotions. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters

Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their performance featured covers of influences, such as a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Christmas Spirit

Finally, the evening turned to the holiday mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Impressions

Although the night's technical execution had some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the net effect was transportive. The audience was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with sparkle rather than frost.